"Ancestrees"

William JAY ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13}

  General Notes:

Jay(e)'s are thought to be French Huguenots (Protestants). The name is spelled GEE in Welsh and JAY in English. (C-463, 839) It has been found under all of the additional spellings: de Jouy, Jaie, Jaye, Joy, Joye, Jary, Jvoy, Gay, Guy, Gouy, Ivey, Jany, Jouy, Iaia, and Le Jay. (C-845a,888) It originally was derived from the location of Jouy in Normandy, France. As Huguenots, the Jouys were forced to flee France during the Catholic-Huguenot Wars from 1550 - 1700. Most came to England and spent several generations. Some came directly to America. There are Jouys still in France and England as well as America. The best information available on the Coat of Arms is that it originated in France holding the motto "Deo duce perseverandun" meaning "With God our leader, we must strive." It includes the picture of the Jaybird sitting on a rock or bush. (C-859)

The lineage for William Jay is still uncertain. Two theories exist. The first one is from the VESTAL JAY NOTES by Percy Pemberton Brown it states: "William Jay had been born in 1720 in Hartford Co. Md. His father, Joseph Jay, had been born in New Jersey, and lived for a time at Borderingtown in that state before moving to Maryland. Joseph's father, John Jay, was a planter of Barbados. He purchased land in Monmouth County, East Jersey from Robert Story in 1671 and William Shakerly in 1672. He visited Rhode Island on business in 1672, met George Fox, founder of the Quaker society, who was then visiting the colonies. Jay went with him on the trip to Md., and later came to N. Jersey. He is mentioned several times in Salem Co (NJ)." (C-175) George Fox, Quaker founder, lists this John Jay as "a Friend, pretty, rich planter of Barbados...and his large family" in his journal of his settlement of the northeast. (C-816, 849) This first theory is supported and further developed by Bill Timmons and has support in deed and will records. It is also the parentage professed in the "Compendium of American Genealogy". I have included it here in my genealogy, to help us visualize it and either prove it or disprove it.

The other theory is published more prominently and also needs to be substantiated. It is from Cassius Milton Jay in the Los Angeles SAR "Bulletin" and in the "Jay Family Index." Cassius (1886-1953), a leading figure in his SAR group and his father, Eli Jay (1826-1911), a professor of Mathematics at Earlham College, had devoted their lives as family historians. In one source, though not this source, it stated that he only felt this was a theory as to the parentage of William Jay. Sadly, the extensive library that supported Cassius's research disappeared at his death. (C-800) The deed and court records in the area were very poorly kept so this too has given us many dead ends.

Cassius Milton Jay's theory was in "The Bulletin", Nov. 1928, with the following lineage. William Jay(5), b. 1720, was the son of John Jay(4) of Salem Co., NJ and Chester Co., Pennsylvania This John(4) was the son of John Jay(3) born Sept. 30, 1672 in Boston to John(2) and Mercy Bartlett Jay. NOTE: Mercy Bartlett's parents were Robert Bartlett and Mary Warren, (daughter of Richard Warren of the Mayflower). John Jay(2) is the supposed son of Thomas Jay(1) b. cal. 1610, architect of great renown of whom much is known in various published records. (C-172, C-173, C-174, C-608) This line, though widely published, has not yet been substantiated by a very large Jay Family Discussion Group on the Internet. One Jay Family member's grandfather had told them that the Jay's were among the first settler's in America, which if correct, would support this theory. (C-970)

What we do know about William Jay and his wife Mary is that they apparently lived in Virginia, North Carolina and Newberry Co., South Carolina. Birth places given for him include Buckingham Twp, Bucks Co., Pa, and Salem Co., NJ as well as Harford Co.(was Baltimore Co. at the time), MD. His birth year of 1719/1720 is estimated from a South Carolina relatives' letter years after his death that said William had died of an accident in his 53rd year.

There is a William who received a patent of 245 acres on Oct. 3, 1734 in Orange Co., VA. William Vestal also received a patent on that same day in the same region. A William Jay sold this land on Sept. 5, 1748. (C-819, 2330) It is possible that our William, supposedly born in 1720, could be the son of this William in the region. The 1734 William was likely the William Jay that married Sarah Wilder on Dec. 6, 1705 in Alls Hollows Parish in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. Note that Hartford Co., MD is northeast of Baltimore and Anne Arundel is just south of it. This William could easily have moved north by 1720 when our William was born. This William and Sarah being the parents of our William is supported by the naming of our William's first daughter, Sarah. (C-949, 2123, E)

One source says that our William was renting 100 acres of land in an unknown location in 1746. This reference probably came from "Abstracts of Wills, Inventories, and Administration Accounts of Frederick Co. Virginia". It lists William Jay under rentals with 100 acres. This area again is fairly close to the Harford Co., MD region. William was the grantor in a deed selling land to Thomas Rutherford on Eavits Runn in Shenandoah near Charlestown on Sept. 5, 1748 whereby Thomas Rutherford became the Indentured servant for William Jay for a period of one year from that date. He lived in the Parish of Fairfax at the time. There was no wife listed giving up her dower rights, suggesting that the William Jay who made this deed had a deceased wife. (C-1231, 2330) I transcribed a copy of this deed record below. 1748 Sale of land from William Jay of Fairfax Co., VA to Thomas Rutherford of Frederick Co., VA This Indenture made the fifth day of September in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred Forty Eight Between William Jay of Fairfax County in Virginia of the one part and Thomas Rutherford Gent. of Frederick County in the Colony aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that the said William Jay for & in consideration of the sum of five shillings current Money of Virginia to Wm Jay in hand paid by the said Thomas Rutherford above & for the Sealing & deliver of these presents the Receipt whereof is hereby Acknowledged & Hath Granted Bargained & Sold and by these Presents, doth grant Bargain & Sell unto the Said Thomas Rutherford his Heirs & assignes One Tract of Land lying & being in the said County Containting One Hundred Acres lying on a Branch of Shannandore River called Eavets Run Beginning at a white Oak in Daniel Burnets Line below the falls of Wats Run & turning thence across the same southley est. One Hundred & thirty Poles by a Red Oak. thence east by South One Hundred & twenty four Poles between a Red & white Oak thence North by Est. One Hundred thrity Poles crossing Eavets Run, to a Cornerstone and thence West by North One Hundred twenty four Poles to the Beginning and all Houses Buildings OZ:chards, Ways Waters Water=courses Profits Commodities, Herediments & appurtenances whatsoever to the said premises hereby granted on anypart thereof belonging or in any wise appurtaining and the Reversion & Reversions Remainder & Remainders Rents (.....s) and Profits thereof, To Have and to hold the said One Hundrd acres of Land and all & Singular other the premises hreby granted with the appurtencances unto the said Thomas Rutherford his Executors administrators & assigns from the Day before the Date hereof for & during the full Term & Time of One whole Year from thence next Entering fully to complead (Indeed) yielding paying therefore the rent of One Pepper Corn on (Lady??) Day (....) if the same shall be lawfully Demanded; to the Intent & purpose that by Virtue of these presents & of the Statue for Transferring (....s) unto Possession the said Thomas Rutherford may be in Actual Possession of the Premises & be thereby Enabled to accept and take (al.....) & Release of the Reversion & Inheritance thereof to him & his Heirs In Witness whereof the said William Jay hath hereunto set his hand & Seal the Day & year first above written Sealed & Delivered in th presence of Sam. Earl, Thomas Chesteer, Jn Hites William Jay, his mark (....) (....) (....) Court held for Frederick County on Wednesday the 7th day of (....), 1748 William Jay in Open Court acknowledged this his Seale for land Indented to Thomas Rutherford grant & it was on his motion Admitted to Record. (Jest) CCC _____ This Indenture made the sixth day of September In the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred & forty eight Between William Jay of the County of Fairfax in the Colony of Virginia of the One part & Thomas Rutherford of the County of Frederick & colony aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth That for 7 in Consideration of the sum of fifty Pounds Current Money of Virginia to the said William Jay in hand paid by the said Thomas Rutherford at or before the sealing & delivery of these presents the Receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge & thereof doth Release acuies & Discharge the said Thomas Rutherford his Heirs Executors & Administrators by these presents He the said William Jay. Hath granted Bargained Sold aliend? Released & Confirmed & by these presents Doth grant Bargain Sell Alien Release & confirm unto the said Thomas Rutherford in his Actual Possession now being by Virtue of a Bargain & Sale to him thereof made by the said William Jay for One whole year by Indenture bearing Date the Day next before the Day of the Date of these presents & by force of the Statue for Transferring (...) into Possession. And his Heirs & assigns forever One Certain Tract of land lying & being in the County of Frederick , and Branch of Shannandore River called Eavets Run Containing One Hundred acres more or less Beginning at a white Oak in Daniel Beernets Line below the falls of Eavts Run & Running thence al &of the same South by West . One Hundred & Thirty Ples by a Red Oak thence East by South One Hundred and Twenty four Poles Between a Red & White Oak thence North by East One Hundred & thirty Poles Crossing Eavets Run to a Cornerstone & thence Wet by North One Hundred & Twenty four Poles to the Beginning and all Houses Buildings Orchards ways Waters Water courses Profits Comadities Hereditaments & appurtenances whatsoever to the said premises hereby granted or any part thereof belonging or in any wise appurtaining and the Reversion & Reversions Remainder & Remainders Rents Issues & profits thereof And also all the Estate Right Title Interest, Property Claim & Demand Whatever of him the said William Jay of in & to the said Premises: And all Deeds (licences?) & Writing to(.....ing) or in any wise concerning the same, To Have and to hold the said One Hundred Acres of land & all & Singular other the premises hereby Granted & Released & every part & parcel thereof with their & every of their appurtenances unto the said Thomas Rutherford his Heirs & assigns forever to the only proper use & behoof of him the said Thomas Rutherford & of his Heirs & assigns forever and the said William Jay for himself his Heirs Execturos Administrators doth Covenant Promise Grant () & with the ssaid Thomas Rutherford his Heirs & assigns by these presents that the said William Jay now at the time of Selaing & Delivering of these presents is siesed of a good pure perfect indefeazible Estate of Inheritance in fee simple of & in the premises hereby granted released : and that he hath good Power & Lawful and absolute authority to Grant Convey the same to the said Thomas Rutherford in manner & form aforesaid And that the said Premises now are & so forwever hereaafter shall remain & befree & clear of & from all former & other Gifts Grants Bargains Sales Dower rigth & Title of Dower Judgments Executions Titles Troubles charges & Incumbrances Whatsoever made done Comitted or Suffered by the said William Jay or any other Person or Persons whatsoever the quit rents hereafter to grow due & payable to our Sovereign Lord the King his Heirs & (S....s) for in respect of the said (P.....s) only Excepted & forepaiyed. and So (.....) that the said William Jay & his Heirs all & Singular the Premises Thomas Rutherford his Heirs & assigns against him the said William Jay & his Heirs and all & every other Person & Persons Whatsoever shall & will warrant & forever defend by these Presents In Witness whereof the said William Jay hath hereunto fed his hand & seal the Day & Year first above written. Sealed & Delivered in the presence of Sam. Earle, Tho. Chester, Jn (Hile???) William Jay, his mark At a court contained & held for Frederick County on Wednesday, the 7th day of September 1748 William Jay in Open Court acknowledged this his Release for Land Indented to Thomas Rutherford grant & it was on his motion Admitted to Record (Jest) Wood CCC ____________

On Aug. 2, 1755, Cane Creek Meeting House records indicate that William was accepted into membership "by request" (C-862) and that the family moved to Casewell Co., North Carolina. He had apparently converted to the Quaker faith at this point. On May 6, 1756, William was granted 395 or 495 acres by an Earl of Granville in Orange Co., NC on the northeast side of North Fork of Flat River. He deeded 50 acres to his son-in-law, John Satterfield, and John's brother James, that same day. He apparently deeded land adjoining this property to his son, Joseph Jay on Oct. 3, 1767. It is suspected that this was a wedding gift as he wasn't in his father's will. In 1771, William signed the petition to have Caswell Co. set off from Orange County, North Carolina.

On Feb. 1, 1772, William and children were granted a certificate to move to South Carolina. His three oldest sons were married by then, William, Joseph and James. William died within the year. Mary remarried shortly thereafter because on Oct. 5, 1772, Mary Vestal Jay wrote an apology for having married out of unity and requested a letter of acceptance for the Bush River MM, SC records. Mary and William's five youngest children joined the Quaker church shortly after their move to Bush River. (C-1017)

The birth of several of their children from John through David are recorded in the Bush River MM records for Newberry, South Carolina. Several of their children appear to have married in Newberry Co., South Carolina. William and Mary Jay are listed as residents of Berkley Co., Dist. 96, South Carolina. (C-457, p.104)

William died shortly after moving to South Carolina supposedly at age 53 from an accident. It occurred shortly before the marriage of his son John to Elizabeth Pugh. He is listed as deceased when his daughter Mary married Charles Patty on Mar. 11, 1773. His will was written on Nov. 23, 1772 and proven on Aug. 31, 1773. In it, he made bequeaths to his wife Mary and children John, David (underage), Mary, Rachel and Lydia. Son John was named Executor. His oldest children were not mentioned. Perhaps he had already given them a start in life. (C-169, 803, 958)

  Noted events in his life were:

• Will, 11/23/1772, , Berkeley, SC.

• Probate, 8/21/1773, , Berkeley, SC.

William married Mary Elizabeth VESTAL, daughter of William VESTAL Jr. and Elizabeth MERCER, about 1743 in Winchester, Frederick, VA, USA. (Mary Elizabeth VESTAL was born in 1723 in , Chester, PA, died in 1818 in New Burlington, Fulton, OH, USA and was buried in 1818 in Burlington, Warren, OH, USA.)

  Marriage Notes:

Mary was reported in 1743 to have married out of unity in Hopewell MM, Winchester, VA records.